EDUCATION: Jobs, not degrees the goal

Regarding Idaho Education Resource Guide, wow! What a fantastic piece of journalism. I read every page and was impressed with each.

As I read the individual articles, I couldn't help but relate each one to what was happening at North Idaho College.

My hope is that the next president, and the current board, will take to heart the idea that community colleges were built on educating our local students for jobs that apply to our local employment needs, rather than just getting them degrees that often translate to low paying baccalaureate type degrees.

Their current idea of separating the lowly, in their opinion, certificate degrees by moving them off campus robs those taking them of also getting some of the other education classes they will need.

Two sections I was particularly impressed with were the article about Mike Rowe - the "Dirty Jobs" guy. He was right on, and particularly as in regard to Technical Education. The other was the "Continuous Enrollment Pilot Project." I feel that NIC is dramatically lacking in "Best practices and proven methods" area. I see very little in the way of those things happening at NIC. Almost no personal counseling and follow-up. Just teach the material.

I know a little of these concerns, both as an employer of technical skills people for 38 years and as a co-founder of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician Program at SFCC. Again, this program was the result of employers seeing the needs in the O & P industry. That program has become one of the most successful in the nation by concentrating on the needs of the industry, rather than just getting a degree.

JACK MEREDITH

Post Falls